Bass in Your Face in B’more, Double Duty in LA

BT keeps it real

Whew—another wild weekend went in the books for the America’s Best DJ competition. And the America’s Best DJ Summer Tour Presented by Pioneer DJ hit two more major markets.

In Baltimore last week, it was 16 full hours of bass in your face at Starscape. The sold-out festival—produced by Steez Promo—drew over 8,000 crazed fans to Ft. Armistead Park and featured 11 ABDJ nominees. They were: Steve Aoki; Bassnectar; Charles Feelgood; Donald Glaude; Hot Pink Delorean; Dieselboy; Klever; Skrillex; Star Eyes (from the Trouble & Bass crew); Tittsworth; and TOKiMONSTA. Of course, DJ Times dropped anchor with a dedicated booth that allowed us to share our latest issue with the masses and take paper-ballot votes from fans wanting to support their favorite DJs.

The event had a decidedly dubstep-oriented approach, so much so that Bassnectar and Skrillex shared an overlapping time slot on separate stages. Still, neither disappointed their ardent fans, as they both dropped whopping sets.

Other highlights included:
*Trouble & Bass member Star Eyes got folks in the sub-busting mood by dropping some wobbly bombs during a thunderous daylight set on the Steez Promo Bass Arena.

The previous night in San Francisco, DJ Times was at Ruby Skye—in the form of Amos Productions—to hold down the fort for a terrific double bill, presented by Spundae. Grammy nominee/musical genius BT and dubstep upstart Porter Robinson rocked a capacity crowd in one of America’s great club venues. The two ABDJ nominees garnered plenty of in-person votes and provided a memorable evening for all.

And now… two big Los Angeles events are on tap this weekend: First up on Friday, it’s DJ Dan at Avalon in Hollywood for the Control party. The ever-reliable Cali jock is again an ABDJ nominee and, surely, he’ll prove why with another late-night scorcher. Then on Saturday, ABDJ noms Faust & Shortee will unleash their deck skills and party-rocking approach at The Joint for the Timeless party.

Come to the gigs and vote at the DJ Times booth or cast your ballot online. One lucky voter will win a trip for two to Las Vegas’ Marquee Nightclub for the America’s Best DJ closing party/award ceremony on October 1. Gotta be in it to win it.
– Jim Tremayne